Being prepared for any type of man-made or natural disaster is the focus all month long during September. The first week of National Preparedness Month is devoted to flood awareness. Please review the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Ready.gov tips to help make sure you know how to prepare for a flood.

Flood Risks

Flooding can occur in any region or any season. It may be in the form of a few inches of water or enough to cover a house. For example:

Coastal areas are at greater risk during hurricane season (June to November).

The Midwest is most at risk in the springtime and during heavy summer rains.

Low-lying areas near a body of water or downstream from a levee are also at-risk areas.

If you start to hydroplane, slowly release the gas pedal until the car regains traction—never brake suddenly or jerk the wheel.

If you can’t see the road or car in front of you, pull over immediately and wait until visibility is good.

If a flash flood occurs

Never drive through a flooded area, even if it appears shallow enough to cross. Just six inches of moving water can knock a person off his feet, and a foot of water can sweep a vehicle off the road.

If your vehicle stalls, leave it and seek higher ground to avoid being swept away.

Keep away from storm drains, streams or ditches, and beware of swift-moving water.

Do not go near downed power lines or electrical wires, and report any you see to the authorities.

If caught outdoors, be aware of quick wind shifts and drops in temperature, and never try to outrun a flood—move to higher ground immediately.

If you are trapped

Call 911 for help. Give your location and detailsand wait for help.

Get to the highest level of a building. However, avoid attics, and particularly basements and lower floors. Only retreat to the roof as a last resort.

Stay in the vehicle if it is trapped in rapidly moving water.

Turn your vehicle around, if you can do so safely, if floodwater is blocking a roadway.

Seek refuge on the vehicle’s roof, if you are trapped and water is rising inside.

Move to higher ground, climbing as high as possible on a sturdy object, if necessary.

Another failsafe of being prepared is to stay informed by monitoring your local weather reports via news media. Consider signing up for community weather alerts via text or email. Coordinate with your security and emergency preparedness teams and heed any evacuation orders from local authorities.

We hope the FEMA resources and this blog post will motivate you to do whatever it takes to #BeSafe in floods as well as every other type of emergency…particularly if you live or work in a high-rise building! A convenient and affordable way to make sure you are prepared for disasters and emergencies of virtually every kind is to subscribe to the Allied Universal Training System by Universal Fire/Life Safety Services, which has been designed to help improve and save lives. For more information about our system, or to subscribe, click here.